Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-08-27
ELSIE'S HUSBAND.

reviewed it as he slowly mounted the
stairs. He entered the room in which they
lived as one in dream, as If nothing in
all the world was real-even as if his own
misery was some dreadful nightmare, from
which he must soon awaken or perish.
"Ralph, did I tell you that the coal was
out p his wifc's voice greeted him; 81
had to borrow this, and Pm afraid can
never pay it all back" The same refrain,
only the needed articles were named with
alarming variety, In the morning it was
oil, without which she could not write, for
her principal work must be done at night
while the children slept. At noon, when
he came in from his tireless street-walks
i'll search Of work, and brought her a lunch
of French rolls and cold tongue, saving he
had eaten his own meal at a restaurant.
which was brave falsehood, she told him
the landlord had visited her for the pur-
pose of ejecting them for the back rent, but
had been Quoted when he saw her few art
icles of furniture and that they were good.
Now, when he had at last battled his way
through the singing snow, on his long
walk home, it was coal that was wanted.
Coal, when the fields not hundred miles
away were black with the waste of it
When, even now, on almost every street
corner, dozen carts might be commanded
for the money. All, yes, for the money
That was it, for the money, and he had
none.
He stretched his thin hands over the
oil-stoye at which Elsie's tea was brewing,
and he shivered. He was careful that she
did not see it-that silver of horror and
cold. She did not look up She had Just
begun her copying for the law firm in the
East End, for which she would receive
sufficient to pay their rent The children
slept. There were three of them, the
eldest scarcely six years old. The man
watched his wife hungrily. How swiftly
her pen fiow-that slender weapon which
held the cold and starvation at bay! He
would not interrupt her for the world.
She was sheltering him and the children
by her work-she, his tender little Elsie,
whom he had married with a promise Of
such happy life!
His tired mouth smiled-a bitter smile
it was. His longing eyes watched her
with 4 hungry look it was well she did
not see.
Yes, the coal is out, and l will go out,
too, presently" he said, as if he felt him
self to be what he was, metaphoricalv,
nearly burned-out candle. But though
the words were well chosen, he was not
thinking of himself He was trying to
think of something which might be turned
into that coal.
After awhile he sighed, long weary
breath that only men driven to the wall in
desperation ever breathe. 4 woman is
moved TO sigh as flower is tossed by the
winds but man rarely shows his GRIFFIN
outward lamentation.
What is the matter, dear? ' Elsie asked
without looking. She felt the infection of
that sorrowful sound rs she might have
felt cold wind over the graveyard with
Its perfumes of dead leaves and roses.
Nothing" he replied, "only this strike
has caught us in rather a bad fix"
should say it had" said Elsie {" It's
great pity you never studied something
substantial claw or medicine) instead of
making investments with your few dollars
in so ephemeral thing as publishing
house with partner; something that
would have kept your family above the
influence of the petty ideas of 4 rabbe of
wOrkmen -"
Don't, Elsie, don't speak in that wav
TO mem he cried as if he had received a
sharp blow. She looked up then and saw
him. A more Notwithstanding creature
she had never beheld. There was no pride
of manhood in that shrinking form. lie
was small and thin, and deathly pall6r was
in his face
"What-what is the matter with your
she asked.
have quit using fopaccom he said,
and laughed. A look of disgust swept
over herface-disgust for such paltry ex-
cuse for highly tragical appearance.
You lcok more like one intoxicated"
she SAID, as she resumed her writing.
10 her 1t was buq the proper thing TO
quit the filthy habit. To him it was like
taking away his food and strength il was
rs blood to him. but he had quit it for the
sake of the nickels ii cost him. that he
might continue TO bring home the lunches
and teas to her. She did not know this.
He consoled himself with the thought
that she did not know it.
Go, please, and order the coal for morn
ming" she said. II believe you have
nothing else to do"
ooh, Yes, 1 have" he thought. "I|
have to get the money" But he fingered
and studied. His tied brain must produce
some plan to get that coal
He walked over to the bed, and turning
down the cover, gazed long at the three
curly-headed children. They were pretty.
and rosy, and fat. How they kept so, when
both their parents we're growing so lean
and hOmely, he could not tell at is hap
piness | suppose-that spirit thing, that
fees with childhood and which we never
overtake again in this world" he unused.
One of the babies was so much like his
wife may have been. He compared the
faces; the one fair, fresh and hopeful; the
other faded, proud, despairing: yet alike |
they were. Then he turned away from |
the bed and went into the streets. When |
he reached the square, the wind, full of J